Homes For Heroes

The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (ADVS) has launched the Homes For Heroes initiative with funding of $750,000 provided by the Governor to directly address homelessness among Veterans in Arizona. The program is designed to support service providers that can deliver place-based housing solutions for Veterans who are literally homeless. Place-based housing in this context refers to immediate transitional housing within Veteran-focused communities that provide comprehensive supportive services. These services include treatment for addiction, mental health care, abstinence-oriented programs, residential recovery supports, assistance for recently incarcerated Veterans, pathways to employment, benefit acquisition, and follow-up care. The overarching purpose of this grant program is to ensure that Veterans receive holistic care tailored to their unique social determinants of health, leading to sustainable transitions into permanent housing. The Homes For Heroes initiative places strong emphasis on reducing barriers to both treatment and housing, prioritizing Veterans who are most at risk. Preference in the awarding process will be given to providers who can offer same-day medical detoxification services for drug and alcohol dependency. In cases where detoxification is not required, providers are expected to place Veterans into immediate housing. Additional consideration will be extended to providers able to accommodate pets, recognizing that some Veterans may face obstacles to entering housing due to their inability to board their animals. This prioritization reflects ADVS’s commitment to comprehensive and practical solutions that support Veterans on their journey to housing stability. ADVS makes clear that the grant is not intended to fund only housing-first approaches, eviction prevention programs, or housing subsidies alone. Rather, the initiative is structured to address the entire cycle of homelessness by providing Veterans with the right intervention at the right time. Each provider is expected to conduct thorough needs assessments to determine the most effective course of action for each Veteran. This approach ensures that interventions are both individualized and impactful, helping to reduce the number of street-dwelling Veterans and allowing ADVS to pivot resources toward prevention and long-term solutions. In terms of eligibility, grant applicants may include 501(c) charitable organizations, local governments, consortia, Native American Tribes, private sector entities, schools and school districts, for-profit organizations, and state government agencies. Preference is given to applicants whose primary mission is serving Arizona’s Veterans and whose objectives align with those of ADVS. Collaboration is encouraged, and community partnerships that combine resources and expertise are welcome to submit joint proposals. This collaborative model is intended to maximize the impact of funding by supporting projects that can deliver comprehensive and coordinated services. Applicants must carefully review the Request for Grant Proposal packet before contacting ADVS with questions. Applications open on August 27, 2025, and close on September 26, 2025. The grant is not rolling and there is no indication of recurring cycles at this time. Funding amounts will depend on the needs and proposals of awarded providers, though the total available program funding is $750,000. Award ceilings and floors are not specified, and the number of awards and average award sizes have not been disclosed. Importantly, matching funds are not required for this grant. The program is administered by ADVS, with the Grant Manager serving as the point of contact. Questions may be directed to grants@azdvs.gov or rdavis@azdvs.gov. Applications and correspondence should be sent to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, 1688 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Applicants are encouraged to prepare thorough proposals that highlight their ability to deliver holistic, Veteran-centered housing and supportive services, ensuring that the Homes For Heroes initiative achieves its mission of reducing homelessness among Arizona’s Veterans.

Applicants are instructed to read the full Request for Grant Proposal packet before contacting ADVS with questions.